Chemically stabilized and was cut nearly 20 years ago. Small-to-medium peridot crystals, often shattered into angular or shard-like shapes are often brown to emerald green but mostly amber in colour.

Brahin is a pallasite, a stony-iron meteorite — the most uncommon class of meteorites (representing 0.2% of all meteorites) which are arguably the most beautiful extraterrestrial substance known. Now offered is a section cut from such a meteorite. A mesmerizing mosaic of sparkling olivine and peridot crystals are showcased. Only the second known meteorite found in the Russian empire. Since that discovery in 1810, over 1000 kilograms of Brahin meteorites have been found. The designation, pallasite, is in honor of the German scientist, Peter Pallas, who discovered the first pallasitic mass in 1749 in Siberia. This is an honor Pallas is most fortunate to have received, for he fervently believed until his dying days that the unusual specimen he found could not possibly be from outer space

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.
160 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm (6¹⁄₃ x 6 x 6 in.)
6.9kg.

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.
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